Sunday, April 28, 2013

Spotlight on May Intrigues: Special Forces Father

Mallory Kane has another thrilling Delancey Dynasty tale in store for readers with Special Forces Father:

MISSION: FATHERHOOD

Special Forces operative Travis Delancey is glad to be back from a difficult mission. But his long-awaited homecoming turns into a nightmare when he hears that his college sweetheart Kate Chalmet gave birth to his son while he was away...and the child has been kidnapped. His skills are instrumental in rescuing the boy, but his reunion with Kate is a distraction.

Kate had her reasons for not telling Travis about his son, but now she must put her doubts aside. His strength and determination to save their child makes her realize he's different from the man he was before entering the military. Perhaps Travis is ready for a family...if he can forgive her. But she cannot get ahead of herself-first they have to save their son.

Saturday, April 27, 2013

Spotlight on May Intrigues: The Marshal's Hostage

Delores Fossen's new miniseries The Marshals of Maverick County kicks off with The Marshal's Hostage:

SECRETS HAD TORN THEM APART...AND REUNITED THEM IN A WAY NEITHER HAD EXPECTED 

She is the last person Dallas Walker ever wants to see again. Still, this U. S. Marshal has no problem taking Joelle Tate into "protective custody"-on her wedding day. To save his family from unjust charges, he'd take on a lot worse than an ex-flame he couldn't trust. But Dallas doesn't know Joelle has put her freedom on the line to protect him. Now with only two days to investigate a long-buried crime no one wants solved, they must confront their past mistakes, and the shattering secret that drove them apart. Giving in to the simmering desire may lead to an impossible second chance-or help set a trap one calculating killer can't wait to spring....

Sunday, April 21, 2013

Spotlight on April Intrigues: Secure Location


The Detectives are back on the case in Beverly Long's Secure Location:

ONE SECRET WOULDN'T CHANGE THEIR PAST-BUT IT COULD SHATTER THEIR FUTURE

Detective Cruz Montoya never knew why his wife, Meg, suddenly ended their happy marriage. But now he's not leaving her side until he catches the person ruthlessly stalking her. That means turning Meg's new life inside out and challenging her attempts to keep his investigation-and his body-at arm's length. Cruz never dreamed Meg's anguished bravery would bring their unresolved past back with a vengeance. And make the desire between them burn even hotter. Then Meg raises the stakes when she reveals the real reason she walked away. Cruz wants answers and to sort out their future. But first he has to outsmart an obsessed killer who can't wait to ensure they don't have one....

Saturday, April 20, 2013

Spotlight on April Intrigues: Royal Rescue


Lisa Childs' Royal Bodyguards are back just in time for a Royal Rescue:

AN AGENT, AN HEIRESS AND A DEADLY RESCUE MISSION...

Media heiress Josie Jessup and her son have spent the past several years in witness protection, yet they are anything but safe. When her father is attacked, Josie decides it's time to return home...and walks right into a deadly trap.

Despite their tumultuous history, FBI agent Brendan O'Hannigan-Josie's former lover and the last man she wants to see-comes to her rescue. As the main reason Josie had to go into hiding in the first place, Brendan knows he has a lot to prove in order to earn her trust. But to reveal his real motive for taking on this case will destroy everything he's worked for. Josie has no idea just how important this mission is...or just how far Brendan will go to ensure their reunion remains permanent.

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Intrigue Online Spotlight Event


Hi Harlequin Intrigue Fans!

The Harlequin Online Community has INTRIGUE in the April Spotlight.  You are all invited to join us there. 

HOW DO YOU FIND THE COMMUNITY?
It's a free sign up.

EVENTS: week three

APRIL 17th: Mystery Hunter – Intrigue Scavenger Hunt
LOTS OF PRIZES !!  


We look forward to your joining us.
Wayne Jordan
Hosty

Monday, April 15, 2013

Happier Endings




Available Now

Did you ever wish you could have more of a certain story?  Well, here's one chance to read more of a book.  In honor of Intrigue month, I'm sharing a free bonus epilogue scene with readers from my March Intrigue, TACTICAL ADVANTAGE.  When I first wrote this story (maybe I was subconsciously writing a new single title novel?), it ran a bit long for Intrigue and my editor asked me to cut about 20 pages.  In other words, there was more to the story than what made it into the final published book.  I tightened some of the book, but a few of the snippets and scenes I dearly loved just had to be cut.  They didn't affect the main mystery or relationship, so for the many of you who have already read TACTICAL ADVANTAGE, don't worry that you may have missed something important.  I didn't cut anything pertinent to solving the mystery of the Rose Red Rapist and the Cleaner.  But, like most of you, I love a good happily ever after.  And, while those intense 48+ hours between Detective Nick Fensom and CSI Annie Hermann ended on an appropriately exciting moment, I thought some of you might appreciate a lengthier version of Nick & Annie's happily-ever-after.

So here it is... the original epilogue I wrote for TACTICAL ADVANTAGE.  It starts here and finishes on my website at www.juliemiller.org.  Enjoy the enriched ending... and explore my website to find an excerpt from my June Intrigue, ASSUMED IDENTITY, a Book GiveAway contest to enter, my monthly newsletter and much more. 



TACTICAL ADVANTAGE
(Excerpt)
By
Julie Miller
©2013

Epilogue

1 1/2 months later

            “Reitzie.”  Annie lifted the lazy Siamese from the domino tumble of picture frames on the mantel where he was lounging while Nick carried up their overnight bags from their weekend getaway to St. Louis.  She set the cat on the floor and shooed him off to find where his counterpart, G.B., was hiding.
            In between unbuttoning her coat and untying the pink scarf that Grandma Connie had knit for her, she straightened one beloved picture after another.  When she reached the mutilated photo from the Baseball Hall of Fame, she smiled.  Without feeling one pang of regret, she opened up her paisley messenger bag and pulled out one of the souvenir post cards she’d bought on their trip and quickly swapped out the old picture for the new one.  She crumpled the memory of her ex-fiancé in her fist and tossed it into the trash.
            “There.”  Annie was admiring the new picture of Busch Stadium in St. Louis, and the new memory it represented, when Nick came in.  He locked the door behind him and hung up their coats.  She pulled the new picture on the mantel to a more prominent position.  “That’s better.”
            Nick came up behind her to wind an arm around her waist and doff a salute to the statue of Stan ‘the Man’ Musial.  “Much better.  Maybe Stan and your dad are up in heaven playing some catch right now.”
            Feeling a pang of melancholy, Annie leaned back against his solid warmth, and found even more comfort when he slipped the other arm around her as well, and pressed a kiss against her cheek.  The sadness quickly passed and she folded her hands over his, soaking in all the miraculous changes in her life since that fateful New Year’s Eve.
            She had a reason to celebrate the holidays now…

Read the rest of the story at <http://www.juliemiller.org/contests_&_fun.htm#BonusExcerpt> 

Available May 21, 2013
Oh, and because I'm so excited to share my latest Beauty & the Beast romantic suspense, ASSUMED IDENTITY, I'll give away a copy here to one lucky poster.  Beauty & the Beast is my all-time favorite romantic storyline--what's yours?  (cowboys, men in uniform, amnesia, secret baby, friends becoming lovers, enemies becoming lovers, whatever)  I'll stop by through the day to chat, and ask my dog Maggie to pick a winner from all the comments and post it tomorrow.

Enjoy!
Julie Miller

Sunday, April 14, 2013

Spotlight on April Intrigues: Star Witness

In Mallory Kane's newest Delancey Dynasty tale, one man will do anything to protect his Star Witness:

STORM ON THE HORIZON

Dani Canto has precious few people she can trust. As prosecutor Harte Delancey's star witness against her grandfather's murderer, she's become a prime target-and a courtroom pawn. Protective custody seems to be the only solution, but she's not expecting Harte Delancey to be her personal bodyguard.

PASSION ON THE RISE

Harte vows to protect Dani himself to ensure her safety and testimony. After all, winning the case will also settle an old family obligation. But earning her trust is key. Now with a raging storm threatening New Orleans and gunmen on their heels, Harte must break down the walls Dani has erected around herself. Once he does, not only does he find unexpected passion, but the certainty that the only safe haven is within each other's arms....

Saturday, April 13, 2013

Spotlight on April Intrigues: Conceal, Protect

Carol Ericson's Brothers in Arms are back on the case in Conceal, Protect:


AN UNDERCOVER SPY WITH THE HEART OF A COWBOY... 

A disappearing roommate and a break-in are all Noelle Dupree needs to take what may be a permanent vacation. The Colorado ranch she inherited is the perfect getaway. It even comes with a hard-bodied cowboy who seems more than willing to be at her beck and call. But there's more to "Jared Douglas" than meets the eye.

Although Noelle thinks everything that happened is random, Special Agent J.D. knows better. An international arms dealer has set his sights on Noelle, and he'll stop at nothing to get what he wants. Keeping Noelle safe soon becomes more than just a mission for the highly trained spy. Because this time, it's not only his career that will suffer if he fails....

Monday, April 8, 2013

Intrigue Online Spotlight Event


Hi Harlequin Intrigue Fans!

The Harlequin Online Community has INTRIGUE in the April Spotlight.  You are all invited to join us there. 

HOW DO YOU FIND THE COMMUNITY?
It's a free sign up.

EVENTS
APRIL 8th: Intrigue Discussion – Intriguing Heroes
APRIL 10th: Trivial Pursuit Intrigue Style
APRIL 11th: New Online Read – Delores Fossen
APRIL 15th: Intrigue’s first Encounter – Readers/Aspiring Author submissions describing Intrigue hero/heroine first meeting (100-150 words).  Just for fun, not a contest.
APRIL 17th: Mystery Hunter – Intrigue Scavenger Hunt

We look forward to your joining us.
Wayne Jordan
Hosty

Sunday, April 7, 2013

Spotlight on April Intrigues: Scene of the Crime: Deadman's Bluff


Carla Cassidy introduces another riveting FBI investigation in Scene of the Crime: Deadman's Bluff:

BURIED ALIVE

FBI agent Seth Hawkins was on a mission to catch a serial killer. Yet his only lead-a mysterious azure-eyed beauty found buried alive in the local sand dunes-had no memory of how she'd been abducted. Or anything else about her identity.

The only thing Tamara Jennings knew for sure was the undeniable attraction she felt for the strong, handsome man who saved her life. It wasn't long before their passion flared out of control. But as memories of her forgotten past returned, would they lead her to the killer-and to a life she could share with Seth?

Saturday, April 6, 2013

Spotlight on April Intrigues: Cardwell Ranch Trespasser


Take another suspenseful trip to the Cardwell Ranch with B.J. Daniels in Cardwell Ranch Trespasser:

CARDWELL BEWARE 

The Cardwell clan has a new, mysterious member. Dana Cardwell warmly welcomed her Justice cousin into the family fold and to the ranch for a reunion. But this cunning kin has other plans for Dana...and designs on her husband, Hud.

Hilde Jacobson has known Dana too long to let her best friend get conned-or worse, killed. Unfortunately Hilde is no match for a skilled impostor who's duped everyone in the canyon. Only Deputy Marshal Colt Dawson believes Hilde's claims about the phony relation; only his strong arms have saved her from "accidents" intended to get her out of the way. Together can they convince the Cardwells that a predator lurks in their happy home?

Friday, April 5, 2013

BORN TO BE WILD Contest Day 3

I’m celebrating Spring (which has finally arrived in Chicago) AND the brand new cover of BORN TO BE WILD by giving away 3 Kindle copies today.

All you have to do is comment on my topic of the day – at the end of the day I will pick the winners at random from those who have left comments.

Today’s topic: Settings are important to me. Sometimes they are like another character in the story (like Suicide Hill in Born To Be Wild).

What setting would you choose to “play a character” in a story that you would like to read?

Thursday, April 4, 2013

BORN TO BE WILD Contest Day 2

I’m celebrating Spring (which has finally arrived in Chicago) AND the brand new cover of BORN TO BE WILD by giving away 3 Kindle copies today and tomorrow. 

All you have to do is comment on my topic of the day – at the end of the day I will pick the winners at random from those who have left comments.

Today’s topic: One of my favorite tropes is getting old lovers back together (like I did with Isabel and Micah in Born to Be Wild). 

I like  the couple already having a history, and it's interesting playing on the reasons they aren't together.

What is a romantic trope that you enjoy and why?

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

SPRING IS IN THE AIR


Do you have any springtime rituals you can share? Like spring cleaning or a trip? Maybe special plants in your garden?  We asked our authors to answer from their heroine’s POV. 

B.J. DANIELS, CARDWELL RANCH TRESPASSER, available now
Heroine: Hilde

Hilde doesn't have time to garden. But owning a fabric store, she buys beautiful flower prints for spring and decorates her store with plants and flowers and bright colors. Her favorite flowers are tulips.

CAROL ERICSON, RUN, HIDE, March 2013
Heroine: Jenna Stark

“My springtime ritual since my covert ops husband, Cade, returned long enough after our honeymoon to tell me to RUN is double checking my escape plans.  Each spring, I make sure I have enough cash to make a run for it if I have to.  I do a trial run of my escape route from my house or apartment, or wherever I happen to be living.  I check to make sure I have enough ammo.  Oh, and I color Easter eggs with my son.”

My #1 spring ritual is starting seeds inside. I scour organic seed catalogs and try to pick heritage seeds that have been passed down through generations. I love reading the little notes that might say, "This pepper was passed down to me by my great grandmother who brought seeds over on a steamship, and it has grown in our Pennsylvania garden since."

What can I say? I'm a writer so I'm a sucker for a good story. :-) Happy Spring!

P.S. I'm gearing up to making a big batch of new release announcements and give away prizes on my Facebook page, so come and Like me to make sure you don't miss anything! 

JULIE MILLER, ASSUMED IDENTITY, June 2013
Heroine: Robin Carter

Spring is absolutely my favorite time of year!  I run the Robin's Nest Florist Shop in downtown Kansas City, and my green thumb has given me great pleasure as well as the financial independence a single mom like me craves.  My favorite flower is an iris, and with the rainy spring we're having in KC, the iris bulbs I planted last fall in the window boxes in front of my shop are blooming like crazy.  Typically, I spend a lot of my springtime out in my garden at home.  I bought an old farmhouse outside of the city and have renovated it and designed the landscaping all myself. While I have made time to plant barrels of red and white geraniums, along with rich blue lobelia--and a rainbow of impatiens in pots all over my front porch, I have scaled back my gardening this year because I want to focus on mommyhood.  I suppose every career woman runs up against her biological clock sooner or later, and without a decent relationship in my life, I turned to adoption.  I was recently blessed to welcome Emma into my life. She's just four months old, and has completely turned my world upside down--but in the best way.  So while there are a lot fewer plants in my garden this spring, there's a freshly painted nursery, lots of new clothes and toys, and a lot less sleep with my precious little night owl filling my time now.  Being a mom is my favorite job, ever!

Of course, I'm still dealing with some unexplained bookkeeping errors that happened at my shop while I was away on maternity leave.  Plus, I've got a surly delivery driver working for me whose seems even moodier now that I'm back at work full-time.  And then there are the Rose Red Rapist attacks that have happened in my neighborhood.  Ever since one of my employees fell victim to his vicious rape and murder, I've implemented new security routines at my shop--and I'm super vigilant whenever I bring Emma to work with me.  I'm aware of every stranger in the neighborhood now.  I swear there's someone out there in the shadows, watching me.  Very unsettling.  It'd be nice to have a man in our lives just to walk us to my car and help me feel safer.  But I didn't get to where I am today by relying on a man to make things happen.  I just have to be extra careful--with Emma's safety as well as my own.  A single mom's work is never done, I guess.

ANGI MORGAN, PROTECTING THEIR CHILD, May 2013
Heroine: Kate Danver McCrea


Spring on a ranch is exciting. New calves and colts take up a great deal of time, but I also continue my mother's vegetable garden. My dad began planting jalapeños. When they turned the tomatoes "hot", I moved them to their own bed. When Cord and I aren't exhausted, we like to take a drive east of Marfa to catch a peek at the lights. And let's not mention the cleaning and planning. And even after all the hiking we've done…there's nothing like getting up at daybreak and taking a long quiet walk and enjoying the beautiful cactus flowers.
 
ROBIN PERINI, BEHIND THE LIES, April 2013
Heroine: Jenna Walters

“Spring is baseball season. What else is there? No one knows, but I sneak out with my son in the backyard and play catch or attend a AAA game. You can’t beat a baseball hot dog. My dad taught me that before he died. ”

PATRICIA ROSEMOOR (with Sherrill Bodine), WRITTEN IN THE STARS, August 2013
Heroine: Cordelia Ward

Cordelia is a marine archeologist, so I imagine she's always waiting for spring to take that first dive of the season. She would, of course, be looking for sunken treasure.

AIMEE THURLO, FALCON'S RUN, July 2013
Heroine: Abby Langdon

Spring is Abby Langdon's busiest time of the year. After the long winter months, Sitting Tall Ranch comes to full life. The Ranch is a place for kids who are victims of illness, poverty, or abuse. At the ranch they can forget their troubles, at least for a while.

Spring is the time when the horses are shedding their coats and the camels look horrible, with huge clumps that need to be brushed off. The hair, of course, can be processed into wool that makes camel hair sweaters which just can't be beat.  Myka Solis from Independence, New Mexico has already asked for the wool. (Myka is the heroine is our Christmas Heartwarming Harlequin,  Ring of Christmas, coming out in November). Spring means sheep shearing, grooming very fuzzy animals, mending the tack, and carrying out any repairs on the stalls and enclosures. It's the busiest time of year for Abby and her small staff of volunteers. When the kids come, all the animals have  to look their best!

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SPRING RITUAL? 

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

BORN TO BE WILD contest



I’m celebrating Spring (which has finally arrived in Chicago) AND the brand new cover of BORN TO BE WILD, Entangled Suspense, by giving away 3 Kindle copies today, Thursday and Friday.

All you have to do is comment on my topic of the day – at the end of the day I will pick the winners at random from those who have responded.

Today’s topic: I love writing stories that have horses whether ranch stories as in Born to Be Wild or racetracks as in Dead Heat or breeding farms as in Purebred.

Is there a particular type of story that you really like to read?

Monday, April 1, 2013

Intrigue Online Spotlight Event


Hi Harlequin Intrigue Fans!

The Harlequin Online Community has INTRIGUE in the April Spotlight.  You are all invited to join us there.  

HOW DO YOU FIND THE COMMUNITY?
Harlequin Online Community
It's a free sign up.

EVENTS
APRIL 1st: Intrigue Readers Challenge
APRIL 1st: Intrigue Discussion
APRIL 8th: Intrigue Discussion – Intriguing Heroes 
APRIL 10th: Trivial Pursuit Intrigue Style 
APRIL 11th: New Online Read – Delores Fossen 
APRIL 15th: Intrigue’s first Encounter – Readers/Aspiring Author submissions describing Intrigue hero/heroine first meeting (100-150 words).  Just for fun, not a contest. 
APRIL 17th: Mystery Hunter – Intrigue Scavenger Hunt 

We look forward to your joining us.
Wayne Jordan
Hosty